Regulator for corn sheller feeders



March 15, 1932. E. FRlsELL ET AL REGULATOR FOR CORN SHELLER FEEDERS Filed Sept. l6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet wmf? AMarch 15, 1932. E. FRlsELL ET AL REGULATOR. FOR CORNy SHELLER mangas 2 sheets-sheet 2 Emes Fh'sel] g 'tou William W iba' Patented Mar. 15, 1932 V UNITED vs'ra'rns PATENT] f ERNEST FRISLI'., or LINcoLN, AND WILLIAM vv. ix'yor DA'YKVI; -EBRskA REGULATOR Fon, CORN sHEL'LER Application filed september 16, 1929. seal ivalssaoso..

Our invention relates to devices for regulating the feed of cornrto the'cornsheller, its primary objectbeing the provision of a mechanism for providing a uniform feed so that the corn sheller will not becomel cloggfedup. l

Another of our objects is the provision of an improved float which is adapted to `rest on the stream of corn above the conveyor, the

float `being sensitiveV to variations in the feed of the corn.

Another of our objects is the provision of a telescoping fioat which is adjustable in width so that it may be applied lto any corn sheller at resent in use.

f `Knother ofV our` Yobjectsv isv the provision of an improved linkage connecting the float and the brake shoe. j

Another object which we have in view is the provision of a simple linkage having a counterbalancing means Vand also adjusting means whereby the pressure of the shoe on the clutch drum may be varied.

Another of our objects is the provision oi' an improved clutch, the clutch being reversible so that'it may be applied to corn shellers regardless of the direction of rotation of the drive shaft. y

Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following description, we will now refer to the drawings, in which j j Figure 1 is a view in side elevationof a portion of a corn Sheller having our regulate ing device secured thereto.

Figure 2 is 'a plan view of a portion of the corn sheller and showing particularly the telescoping float drum. y

Figure 3 is a view in side elevati'onfof the clutch. y l

Figure 4 is a sectional view ofthe assembled clutch, the section being takeny onthe diagonal.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation ofthe drivrnember of theuclutch,

Finne 611s an 'elevational viewer iihestp memler of the clutch. j 1 Figfe 71S @new in 'eievation cette. fria,

by the driving member of the clutch. y

"Figure 8 is a view imlevaton of the sprocket wheel me'mbe'riof the'ellitch.A j.,

. In Figure 1 we fshow in 'conventional f a` portion of a corn` Sheller,- the'd'etails which Aare varied in numerous 'respects in the" cornsh'elljers n'o'vv the frame is, scented trdiif'hii through which the corn 4is "conveyed to' 'the' shelling` apparatus. This ufigh has a ad@ 12 andsid walls 13. T11-e endless conveyor 14 travelspvir theffiai 12 of the trough`soas`- to Vcarry thears' of corn tothe shelling mechanism. lThe jcloiiveyor 14 S Adriven"'througli connections tliedrive shaft v15 which receives p'wenfrol anysiiit'abl''source. u

The eaif 'corn is fed t0 ythey tro'ug'l.. 11 kin Y ahfv suitable manner, preferably by 'rn'eclian'- i'cgil means. These means include soins ferm of 'chiite or trough 17 which is belted 'i' geared] ni- Iany suitable, [manner *sich* s through thechains 18 and 19I to be driven the drive shaft 15.` Most corn sh'ellers`J are provided with the qiivlet fofy shaft 20 which is driven from the 'drive shaft 1:5 and which is supported on 'a portion of th'e anil work of the sheller such as the standard 21. The shaft 20 is usually provided 'means tion 'member whicliis adapted to be driven The conveyor' 17 may be fedmanuallyrjo its receiving yendina'y be positioned in the corn crib or the 'corn may be dumped into the Y conveyor froml wagons o`r ,other The feed ofthe `'conveyor'- 17 lthus very iri regular and the-corn iS delivered iniiegnlai quantities tothe trough 11. In corn shellers of breaking portions of the sheller. The irregularity in feed results not only in possible damage to the shelling machine but it causes the machine to have a rather low efficiency both in the consumption of power and in the results produced. Our device is designed for the purpose of regulating the feed of ear corn into the trough 11 so that the sheller will run at a substantially uniform rate Without danger of the sheller becoming clogged up.

o The arm 22 is pivotally secured to the standard 21 by means of bolts 23 or the like. The arm 22 is jointed at 24 so that its length may be varied in accordance with the dimensions 4o f the Sheller. The arm 22 carries a float 25 at its free extremity, the float being secured to an axle 26, theendsof which are journalled in the arms 22. The float 25 is made adjustable so as to accommodate shellers of various widths. As shown in Figure 2, the yfloat consists ofV a plurality of sections which are adapted to telescope into each other for'the purpose of' increasing or decreasing `the width of the float. This float as shown 1n theV stream of Figure 1 is adapted to rest on The shaft 27 ear corn in the trough 11. which vsupports the arms 22 on the standard 21 valso carries an'arm 28.` The link 29 is adjustablysecured to Vthel arm 28 and its oppositelendv portion passes through a sleeve of thel ar1n3O of a bell crank. The bell crank is pivoted at-31 to a support l32 ywhich is secured to the frame ofthe machine. The second armj33 of the bell crank carries the lclutch shoe 34.' The link 29 is further prou videdwith a vlouder springv 35 for reducing shock. It is'obvious from an inspection of Figure 1 that the movementsv of the ioat 25 are communicated to the clutch shoe 34. The device further includes a flexible' link 36 connecting ther arms 22 to the standard 21 and a counterbalancing spring 37 also connecting the arms 22 to the standard 21. The flexible link 36 is designed to limit the movement of the float in a downward direction and for this purpose the connections of the linkwith the standard are adjustable. j I

The drive shaft 15 is provided with a clutch 38 through which the chains 18 and 19 are driven. The clutch 38 is best shown in Figures 3 to 8 inclusive. Keyed to the shaft 15 is a clutch driving member 39. The driven member of the clutch is shown yat 40. Both the driving and the driven members of the clutch are provided with annular flanges which project in opposite directions. While thedriving member 39 `is keyed to the shaft 15 th`e driven member 4() has a loose relation with respect to the shaft. The annular flange of the-driven member 40 carries a sprocket wheel 41 which is keyed to the annular flange as shown in Figure 4 so that the driven memf ber 40 and the sprocket wheel are in effect integral. The stop member 42 is j ournalled on the annular flange of the driving member 39. Secured to the driven member 40 at two diametrically opposite points are chains 43 or similar flexible members which Vpass through apertures in the stop member 42. The ends of these chains are connected to means of bolts 45. By tightening or loosening the nuts 46 the tension on the chains 43 is increased or decreased but the important fact is that the variation in tension is uniform on both chains 43. During the rotation of the clutch Vthe chains have an angular relation kwith respect to the various -clutchmembers and at such times they are under their maXimum tension which forces the `members 42 and 40 tightly against the driving member 39. The power of the shaft 15 is therefore applied to the members 40 and 42 through fric tional engagement with the driving member 39. The springs 47Y connecting the parts 40 and 42 normally urge theparts 'into clutching engagement. f I

` During the operation of the clutch the springs 43 hold the clutch members 40 Y in close embrace about the driving member 39 so that the friction between these members causes the rotation of the members 40 and 42 and consequently of the sprocket wheel meinber'41. At such times the chainV is inclined outwardi 1 and forwardly from the member 40 and is thus kept under tension. 1f the movement ofthemember 42l isarrested, as for example through theclutch shoe 34, the chain 43 instantly straightens out and becomes slack thus permitting a slight separation of the members 4() and 42` from the Ydriving member 39. At such times the members 40 and 42V and 42 will be held against rotation while the v shaft 15 with the driving clutch member 39 ytension in the chains 43 to again bring the parts 40 and 42 into frictional engagement with the drive member 39. The engagement and disengagement of the clutch parts is thus entirely automatic.

Since the corn shellers to which we wish to apply our device vary between wide limits and in many respects, it is necessary for us to provide a clutch which will operate in either direction, the direction of rotation not being uniform in all corn shellers. Our clutch has therefore been designed to be reversed with the least possible' adjustment. As before stated, the chains 43 are secured tothe driven member 40 in the manner shown -in Figure 4; In Figure 7 we show an .elevational view of the `member 40 showing particularly 'the points of attachment of both the chains v43 and the springs 47.l The ends of the chains 43 izo aresecured to eyes 48 projecting from the f Vmember 40. It will be noted that there are two pairs of eyes48. The point ofattachspect to the direction of movement. To restraps 44 which are joined at their ends by vverse the direction of the clutch action it is therefore necessary to change the point of attachment of the chain 43 to the eye which will be in the rear during the rotation ofthe clutch. The springs 47 are attached to the member 40 at the vpoints 49 and these. points of attachment need not be disturbed. It is, however, necessary to reverse the direction of action of the sprin s but this is easily accomplished by provi ing two diametrically opposite pins 49 in the stop member 42 to which the ends of the springs are detachably secured. The reversal of the clutch thus necessitates release of the springs 47 from the pins 49, and the shifting of these connections downward movement of said oat, an arm projecting angularly from one of said pair of Y In testimony `whereof we aflxour signatures. Y

WILLIAM W. FOX. ERNEST FRISELL.

through the opposite apertures of the pairs of elongated apertures and to the opposite pins 50. The action of the springs 47 will then be to shift the members 40 and 42 axially with reference to each other until the pins 49 are at the opposite ends of the slots.

Having thus described our invention in such full, clear, and exact terms that its construction and operation will be readily understood by others skilled in the art to which it pertains, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: v

1. In a device for attachment to a corn l i Sheller or the like for regulating the feed thereto, a fioat adapted to rest on the stream of corn entering the sheller, said float bein adjustable in length, a pair of links secure to said float and adapted to be secured to a fixed part of the sheller, means for adjusting the length of said links, means for varying the height of said float above the bottom of the stream of corn enteringthe sheller, Y

and means actuated by said links for automatically reducing the feed of corn when the feed of corn to the sheller becomesl excessive.

2. In a device for attachment to a corn sheller or the like for regulating the feed thereto, a cylindrical float comprising a plurality of telescoping cylindrical sections, said float adapted to rest on the stream of corn enterinfr the shelter, a pair of links secured to said float and adapted to be secured to a fixed part of the sheller, means for adjusting the length of said links, means for varying the height of said float above the bottom of the stream of corn entering the sheller, and means actuated by said links for automatiof corn to the lSheller becomes excessive.

3. In a device for attachment to a corn sh'eller or the like for regulating the feed thereto, a cylindrical float adapted to rest on the stream of corn entering the sheller, a pair of arms secured to said float and adapted to be pivotally secured to the frame of the shell-er,

means for varying the ,length of said arms, a pair of flexible and adjustable links secured to said arms and adapted to be secured to the sheller frame for adj ustably limiting the 

